CALDERWOOD knows better than most the Dons' No.1's ability to bounce back from adversity after an infamous summer bust-up in Majorca.

JIMMY CALDERWOOD was the man who told Jamie Langfield he’d never play for Aberdeen again after the goalkeeper had a boozy night out.

But the former Pittodrie boss believes the club would be mad to ditch Langfield because of his latest howler against Dundee United.

Langfield
was credited, if that’s the right word, with an own goal that cost his side two points at home on Wednesday, the newest error in a season that began with the gift of a matchwinner for Celtic on the opening day.

But Calderwood has known Clangers was a winner since he saw him go ballistic
in a reserve match at Dunfermline during his time in charge at East End
Park. And nothing has happened over the intervening years to change his mind.

Calderwood said: “We had the infamous incident in Majorca when Jamie was on his stag do and he and I clashed in public.

“We’ve
all been there in our time and I was raging with him because of his conduct. I did tell him he was finished at Pittodrie and that he should find another club – but what happened after that had to be admired.

“Jamie returned for pre-season training as fit as he’d ever been in his life and worked so hard he’s never looked back.

“I told him at the time the dressing-room mirrors weren’t just for combing your hair and to make yourself look presentable.

“I
lectured to him that they were there for self-examination and he took the lesson to heart. He was full of remorse over what happened between us in Spain and went back to being the goalkeeper I knew he could be.”

Langfield’s
nickname of Clangers is used against him in evidence whenever he’s involved in a the loss of a cheap goal but Calderwood doesn’t believe he’s more accident prone than anybody else.

He
said: “I looked at Artur Boruc playing for Southampton against Arsenal on Tuesday and he made three significant mistakes in the first five minutes of the game – and look at the quality Boruc possesses. The difference was Boruc’s mistakes weren’t punished.

“Central defenders, even those ranked among the best in the world, can make five mistakes in a game and nothing gets mentioned.

“Goalkeepers
are in a no-win situation because they’re expected to save everything. They’re on their own in the spotlight and the only people they can turn to for understanding is their understudy – who is after their job.

“I
believe Jamie’s being harshly maligned. He was brilliant for me at Aberdeen and has saved the team more times than he’s cost them games.

“I saw him against Hibs at Easter Road earlier this season and the game developed into a duel between Jamie and Leigh Griffiths. It was shootie-in.

“How Jamie managed to keep a clean sheet I’ll never know but he defied Hibs that day and got Aberdeen a win
they didn’t deserve.”

Calderwood knows quitting isn’t in Langfield’s
nature. He said: “I was managing Dunfermline when Jamie played for Dundee reserves against us. We were four goals in front and he was kicking his goalposts and going ballistic with his defenders.

“I looked at him and thought, ‘This kid’s a winner’.

“He’s
a hard worker and loves the game. That’s a good professional in my book
and explains why he shouldn’t become an easy target because Aberdeen drew a match.”